Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Take one slightly OCD supervillain with a penchant for science, one golden knight who works for the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics, and one superbad shape-shifter girl.

Swirl it all with a heavy dose of sarcastic humor, a heaping of death and destruction, and a taste of the days of Lancelot with a hint of today's science technology.

Read for a day (or two) and you'll see what an OUTSTANDING graphic novel this is!!

Ballister Blackheart is a supervillain. He's created not only a name but a reputation for being the nemesis of the kingdom's golden boy, Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin (and the humor begins...). They've been fighting for years because of a joust gone wrong and nothing will mend the friendship they once shared.

And then along comes Nimona. Such a cute girl with red hair...and a penchant to want to destroy, kill and maim. She's a shapeshifter, and can replicate into anything in order to help Sir Blackheart take over the kingdom. But there are a few slight problems.

He wants control and order, she lives in chaos.
He's not into hurting or killing people, she doesn't think twice about not doing it.
He's a seasoned veteran, who's been working on his reputation for awhile. She's a young newbie, with lots of enthusiasm and curiosity.

Together, they are beginning to tear the kingdom apart (even though she's allergic to bananas and can hardly watch a scary movie), especially after they find out what the Institution is truly up to.

The Director assigns Sir Goldenloin the task of killing the girl and capturing Blackheart, but he's not sure he can do it. Go against the Institution and lose his place of glory or kill a little kid? What's a knight to do?

Stevenson creates a graphic novel which not only tells a great story, but also brings about fits of laughter. Her art is a spot-on delivery of building and creating characters and their personalities the reader understand through through the artwork Stevenson creates. She carries it forward not only through artwork, but the subtle ways the characters interact and speak to each other all while an exciting tale is told. No wonder this was nominated for the National Book Award....it's truly an excellent GN! HIGHLY recommended for JH/HS